UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his decision to attend the G20 summit in South Africa just days before his government unveils a highly anticipated and potentially controversial budget — and despite former US President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the event.
Starmer landed in Johannesburg on Friday for two days of G20 meetings and bilateral discussions focused on sustainability, investment, and global economic growth. Downing Street insisted the trip delivers strong value for British taxpayers, even with Chancellor Rachel Reeves in London finalising the budget, expected to include significant tax changes.
Speaking en route to South Africa, Starmer stressed that strengthening international ties is essential for the UK’s economic recovery.
“If you want to tackle the cost of living and create secure, well-paid jobs, investment from G20 partners is vital,” he said. “These relationships translate into real jobs back home.”
Trump’s Absence Shadows the Summit
Although Starmer will meet several world leaders, he will not get a bilateral with Trump, who announced he would not attend, accusing South Africa of discriminating against its white Afrikaner minority.
South Africa rejected the claim, saying the US was practising “coercion by absentia.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used the B20 summit to call for respect on the global stage.
“We are sovereign countries and must be treated as equals… without any bullying,” he told business leaders.
Starmer avoided engaging in Trump’s accusations directly, saying only that the G20 remained an important forum for global cooperation.
Key Global Leaders Missing
The summit will also proceed without Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.
Putin remains wanted by the International Criminal Court, of which South Africa is a signatory, while Xi has skipped several international gatherings this year.
UK Focus: Ukraine and Global Coordination
UK officials say Starmer will use part of the trip to rally support for Ukraine as Trump drafts a peace plan that would force Kyiv to cede territory and weapons.
Starmer recently discussed the proposal with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, and will continue talks with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the summit.
Budget Pressure Intensifies at Home
Back in London, Chancellor Reeves is finalising a budget that could raise billions in new revenue — including through a freeze on income tax thresholds — after the government shelved plans to increase income tax rates. Reeves is now looking for ways to secure roughly £20 billion in additional tax income.
Starmer said the upcoming budget would reflect “Labour values and fairness,” pointing to years of economic shocks including the 2008 financial crisis, austerity, Brexit, the pandemic, and the Ukraine war.
Despite the challenges, he remains upbeat:
“If we get this right, our country has a great future.”